Lithgow leafy greenhood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lithgow leafy greenhood |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pterostylis
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| Species: |
parca
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| Synonyms | |
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Bunochilus parcus D.L.Jones |
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The Lithgow leafy greenhood (scientific name: Pterostylis parca) is a special type of orchid plant. It's found only in New South Wales, Australia. When it's not flowering, it has a small group of leaves called a rosette close to the ground. When it does flower, it grows a tall stem with beautiful pale green flowers.
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What the Lithgow Leafy Greenhood Looks Like
The Lithgow leafy greenhood is a plant that grows from an underground tuber. This means it has a special storage part underground. It's a perennial plant, so it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, meaning its leaves fall off at certain times.
Non-flowering plants have a rosette of leaves. These leaves are narrow and egg-shaped. They are about 10 to 30 millimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) long. They are also about 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. This rosette grows on a short stalk, about 30 to 60 millimeters (1.2 to 2.4 inches) tall.
When the plant flowers, it grows a tall stem. This stem can be 150 to 450 millimeters (6 to 18 inches) high. It has three to six stem leaves. These leaves are 30 to 70 millimeters (1.2 to 2.8 inches) long. They are 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide.
The Flowers
The flowers of the Lithgow leafy greenhood are a pale, see-through green. They are about 13 to 15 millimeters (0.5 to 0.6 inches) long. They are also about 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.
The top part of the flower, called the dorsal sepal, joins with the petals. Together, they form a hood over the center of the flower. The tip of this dorsal sepal is often brown. The side sepals point downwards. They are about 10 to 12 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long. They are also 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide. These side sepals are joined together for more than half their length.
The labellum is a small, tongue-like part inside the flower. It is about 4 millimeters (0.2 inches) long. It is also about 2 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide. This part is reddish-brown and has tiny hairs. It also has a dark stripe down its middle.
When it Flowers
You can see the Lithgow leafy greenhood in flower from August to October.
How the Plant Got its Name
The Lithgow leafy greenhood was first officially described in 2006. A botanist named David Jones gave it the name Bunochilus parcus. He wrote about it in a scientific book called Australian Orchid Research. He found a sample of the plant near Lithgow.
Later, in 2010, another botanist named Gary Backhouse changed its name to Pterostylis parca. The second part of its scientific name, parca, comes from a Latin word. This Latin word means "frugal" or "scanty." It refers to the small size of the labellum in this orchid species.
Where it Grows
Pterostylis parca grows in moist, damp areas. You can find it in forests around the Lithgow and Bathurst areas of New South Wales.
